Hospital Meeting a Total Sham Says MP

Hemel Hempstead MP, Sir Mike Penning has condemned last week’s hospital meeting as a total sham.

Sir Mike spoke at the meeting in Bushey on Thursday 13 June along with a good number of local residents from Dacorum.

He said: ‘The Board have no interest in listening to local people. We easily had the largest group there despite it being all the way over in Bushey and they kept overlooking questions from the Dacorum group.

‘This is an appalling decision. The Trust is spending £350 million – nearly all of it on the Watford site. Less than 3% will be spent in Hemel Hempstead.’

‘They say the decision has not been made, but we know it has. The Trust make no pretence of taking on board any comments from local people and local campaigners.

‘I am sad and disappointed, but not surprised. The meeting was a total sham.’

The boards of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group have decided to back proposals that would see over 85% of the £350 million funding available being allocated to Watford with just £10 million allocated to Hemel Hempstead.

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Sir Mike added: ‘They are building a new hospital in Harlow which is estimated to cost £350 to 400 million. We should do the same here.’